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1 


C V L AND RELIGOUS 




H STORY 




OF 




Andover Center, N. H. 




BY 




LYMAN CLARK, 


1 


Minister of the Congregational Unitarian Society. 




HAVERHILL, MASS., 




C. C. MORSE & SON, 


) 


1 90 1 , 

. -J - ' : . — 


c — — 





Civil and Religious 
HISTORY 



OF 



Andover Center, N. H. 



BY 



LYMAN CLARK 



Minister of the Cc'n'greg.itlonfrl' 'UnrtaVVa'n' Society. 



HAVERHILL, MASS., 
C. C. MORSE & SON. 

1 90 1 



f 



\ (?c.<^ 






KEl.IGIOUS HISTORY OF ANDOVER CENTER. 

Remember the days of old. Deut. 32: 7. 

The Scriptures admonish us to study the history of 
the past. This we do for the help it gives in making 
the history of the present and as an inspiration to fu- 
ture endeavors. Our subject is the ReHgious .History 
of Andover Center. The sources of the information 
contained in tliis discourse may well be given. 

Mrs. Hiram Fifield has kindly furnished the rec- 
ords of the Universalist Society, and valuable papers. 
^[r. Nathan Woodbury has supplied the records of the 
Christian Society and other papers. Mr. W. A. Batch- 
elder has loaned a part of the Centennial address of G. 
E. Emery with other materials collected by him. Rev. 
John Thorpe has placed at my disposal three historical 
sermons by Rev. Howard Moody. From Miss Eliza- 
beth A. Dodge I have received the records of the Orth- 
odox Congregational Society; and from C. E. Carr, Esq., 
the records of the Congregational Unitarian Society. 
Information has been kindly given by many p'ersons from 
recollection. 

It may properly be mentioned that records of the 
Freewill Baptist Society, an early Unitarian Society, 
the early Congregational Society or church, and of the 
Methodist class are not found. If these could be recov- 
ered they would be a valuable addition to the sources 
from which the religious history of Andover must be 
written. There are many points upon which further in- 
formation is desired. If it shall seem proper so to do a 
second discourse may give the results of further study 
of the subject. 



2 

EARLY HISTORY. 

The story of the rehgious Hfe of the people of An- 
clover village is connected with the early history of the 
town. A brief word of this early history is necessary 
The town originally consisted of a territory ten miles 
long and four wide, bounded on the east by the Pemig- 
ewasett river. The forty square miles were divided into 
eighty one shares. Of the eighty one shares two were 
assigned for religious uses. One was given to the first 
settled minister in the town, which proved to be Rev. 
Josiah Babcock, to be his own possession. The other 
of the two was to be set apart for the " support of the 
Gospel ministry forever;" and ten acres of land were to 
be reserved " to build a meeting house and school house 
upon, and for a training field and burying place, and any 
other public use the inhabitants there may have occa- 
sion for." This lot of land devoted to the support of 
the ministry was finally sold and converted into a fund 
amounting to $1607, the interest of which was divided 
among the different churches of the town in proportion 
to their membership. Under date of March 8, 1 831, as 
Elder Moody informs us, the town " Voted to appropri- 
ate the parsonage fund, both principal and interest for 
the use and* benefit of the Town." Whatever may have 
been the legal authority for this action it appears to have 
been an improper conversion of the proceeds of land 
originally given for the "support of the Gospel ministry 
forever." 

FREE BAPTISTS. 

The Freewill Baptist denomination, now called 
Free Baptists, originated in New Hampshire, the first 
church being organized by Rev. Benjamin Randall at 
New Durham in 1780. The name was given because 
of their teaching, in opposition to the doctrine of pre- 
destination of John Calvin, that man has freedom of will. 



From George E. Emery's centennial address we learn 
that Ebenezer Chase was ordained to the ministry in 
this town, 1810, by the Freewill Baptists having organ- 
ized a church in this village about the year 1809. He was 
an able man and maintained a printing office from which 
was issued a paper, The Religious Informer. A Life of 
Rev. John Colby and other publications were also print- 
ed. Mr. Emery speaks of Rev, Ebenezer Chase as "lib- 
eral, broad spirited Christian gentleman." The Freewill 
Baptist society wdiich he formed in Andover Center ap- 
pears to have been the first religious society in this vil- 
lasfe of which we have account. There was at that time 
no church building in this village. The meetings were 
doubtless held at the hall in the house now the dwelling 
house of Hiram Fifield, or in the school house on the 
corner near by, or otherwise in private houses. We do 
not know where the society met. Mr. W. S. Carr re- 
calls a tradition that when the school house was first 
built a fire-place was used for heating the room. Later 
a stove was put in and Amos V. Proctor was called up- 
on for some sentiment to so important an event as the 
erection of this stove. After a little thought he gave 
this : 

For twenty-five dollars we've bought us a stove ; 
Worth two or three hundred, we hope it will prove, 
And keep the scholars warm while the master is teaching. 
And Thompson and Fletcher and Hutchins ars preaching. 

In as much as Rev. or Elder Jesse Thompson was 
a Freewill Baptist minister, this tradition appears to in- 
dicate that meetings w^re sometimes, at least, held in 
the schoolhouse. Mr Emery tells us that Jonathan 
Keniston was "ruling elder" and Moses Sleeper Deacon 
of this early society which was scattered in 18 14. No 
information has been received of the Rev. gentlemen, 
Fletcher and Hutchins mentioned in the quatrain of 
which was used for the dedication of the school house 
stove. 



4 
While the Free Baptist Society is inactive, both at 
this place and East Andover, the religious movement 
represented by the denomination has been important in 
this vicinity. The academy at New Hampton is an in- 
stitution that grew out of the interest taken by this de- 
nomination in education. 

UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY. 

The second religious society of which we have re- 
port, organized at Andover Center was Universalist in 
its religious profession. The record of its organization 
is before me having been presei'ved by Hiram Fifield. 
It is in these words : 

At a meetino: of a number of the Brethren in Ando- 
ver, believing in the restoration of all men through Jesus 
Christ, attended on Brother Peter Fifield while he read 
a statement of the faith once delivered to the saints and 
after a few preliminary remarks on the same, voted unan- 
imously that Brother Peter Fifield be Chairman of this 
meeting and Jere E. Tirrill, Clerk. 

3d Voted unanimously that the Brethren present form 
themselves into a society for the support of the Gospel 
by the name of the First Universalist Society in An- 
dover. 

4th Voted that the annual rneeting of this society be 
holden on the first Tuesday in March. 

5th Voted that it be the duty of the Clerk to notify the 
annual meeting. 

6th Voted that John Tirrill, Benj. Thompson and 
Sam'l Elkins be a Committee to transact all secular con- 
cerns of this Society. 

7th Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the first 
Tuesday in March. 
March 2nd 18 19. 

Met according to adjournment. 

8th Voted that the Brethren petition the Legislature to 



5 
be incorporated by the name of tlie First Universal 
Society of Andover, N. H. 

9th Voted to choose a committee to form a petition 
and present the same to the Legislature for the above 
purpose, 
loth Meeting dismissed. 

J ere E. Tirrill, Clerk. 
Peter Fifield, Chairman. 

The society was incorporated June 24th 18 19. 
While the record does not explicitly state the fact the 
meetino' for ors:anization was doubtless held at the house 
of Peter Fifield, now occupied by his son Hiram F"ifield. 
The statement which was read by Peter Fifield to 
the meeting was not recorded and the first pages of the 
record book are torn out, the fores^oing statement beinof 
on a sheet of paper. There is however no reason to 
doubt that Peter Fifield read to the meeting the Con- 
fession known as the Winchester Confession, having 
been adapted by the General Convention of the Univer- 
salists at Winchester, N. H., in 1803. All Universalist 
churches to the present time, 1897 are organized upon 
that statement. It is this: 

Article i. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the 
Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the 
character of God, and of the duty. Interest, and final des- 
tination of mankind. 

Article 2. We believe that there Is one God, whose 
nature is Love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by 
one Holy Spirit of Grace, who wall finally restore the 
whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness. 

Article 3. We believe that holiness and true happi- 
ness are inseparably connected, and that believers ought 
to be careful to maintain order and practice good works, 
for these things are good and profitable unto men. 

These, then, are the religious ideas which interested 



6 

those who oro-anized what they first called the Frst Uni- 
versalist and afterward the First Universal Society in 
Andover, N. H. 

The records af the society are continued form 1820 
to 1 83 1 when the record closes without any formal diso- 
lution of the society. Among the interesting things to 
be noticed is the vote, 1820, to raise the sum of sixteen 
dollars to defray the expenses of the year; that the 
meetings were variously held at the houses of J. J. Bry- 
ant, Samuel Brown, Peter Fifield, the School House in 
district No. 10, the house of Reuben Dearborn, Gershom 
Durgan, Robert Barber, the Franklin House, and the 
Inn of Dudley Dearborn. March 3, 1829, the society 
" Voted, that we direct the assessors to engage Mr. Rob- 
ert Bartlett to preach with us one fourth part of the time 
and move him to this town, provided that other towns 
adjoining give sufficient encouragement to hire him the 
remainder of the time at the rat of fore hundred dol- 
lars per year." 

The clerk of the society received Jan. 7, 1830, the 
following notice : " We, the undersigned wishing to be- 
come members of said society request you to insert our 
names as such on the records of said society, for the 
purpose of ch-awing our proportion of interest money." 
Signed, Joseph Whittaker, John Forsaith, Luke Con- 
verse, Versal R. Eastman, Royal F. Eastman, Hiram 
Eastman, Calvin Keniston, Wm. Walker, Jona Kimball. 
This addition to the membership was doubtless not a 
matter of desire for personal gain but to enable the so- 
ciety to receive a larger part of the proceeds of funds 
which I have mentioned as in care of the Town for the 
benefit of all religious societies. 

The last entry made, March 6, 1832, is signed by 
Peter Fifield, societys Clerk. 



7 

EUILDING TMK MEETING IIOUSE. 

A concise record of the proceedings whicli led to 
building the meeting-house waich still foruis the central 
portion of Proctor Academy building is found on one 
sheet of paper. It is as follows : 

At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of An- 
dover holden at the house of Peter Fifield, Esq'r., on 
Saturday the tenth day of Nov., 1821, to consult on the 
propriety of building a meeting-house on the parade 
near Peter Fifield Escp-'s house, the following votes were 
taken, viz : 
ist Chose Wm. Proctor Esq'r Chairman. 
2nd Chose Jere Tirrill, Clerk. 
3rd Voted to choose a committee to determine on the 

propriety of building a meeting-house. 
4th Chose Lt. Daniel Huntoon, Lt. Moses Brown, Pet- 
er Fifield, Esq'r., Jonathan Brown, Wm. Proctor, 
Esq'r., Committee. Said Committee report that 
in their opinion it is expedient to build a meet- 
ing-house. 
5th Voted to chose a committee to superintend the 
building of said house and procure further sub- 
scriptions. 
6th Chose Jonathan Brown, James Tucker, Esq'r., Pet- 
er Fifield, Esq'r., Lieut. Daniel Huntoon and 
Benjamin Gale, Committee. 
7th Voted to build a two story house. 
8th Voted to refer the size and model of said house to 

the Committee. 
9th Voted that it be the duty of the Clerk to make out 
a certificate to James Tucker, Esq'r., of his ap- 
pointment, signed by the Chairman and Clerk, 
loth Voted that this meeting be adjourned to this place 
to be holden on Thursday, 29 Nov. instant, ten 



o'clock, A. M. 

Jere E. Tirrill, Clerk. 

All unsigned report of the adjoumed meeting tells 
us that after a second adjournment to Dec. i, the pro- 
ceedings were as follows : 

Saturday, Dec. i, met according to adjournment. 

The committee to whom was referred the size and 
modle of said house presented a modle which was ac- 
cepted. 
2nd V'^oted to build a porch instead of a Cubulow. 

3rd Voted that the frame be vendued to the lowest bid- 
der. 

4th Voted to choose a committee to sui-vey the timber 

and inspect it and sit the value on the same. 
5th Choose Jere E. Tirrill and Aaron Cilley. 
6th Voted to set it up to vendue, 
/th Choose Wm. Proctor, Esq'r., Auctioneer. 
8th Struck off to Wm. Cilley at one hundred eighty 

dollars. 
9th Voted to have the house raised by the fifteenth of 
May next. 

The last vote required the raising of the building 
by May 15, 1822. No records at hand show whether or 
not the frame was raised by that time. Probably the 
vote was carried out. A bill of John Taylor for sup- 
plies, chiefly for nails and rum furnished the committee 
during the months from July to December is unfortu- 
nately without mention of the year but it was probably 
during the year 1822 and indicates that the finishing 
was in progress at the time. 

Mr. Emery, in his centennial address makes this 
statement concerning the Union Meeting House : " In 
1824 the Union Meeting House at Andover Center was 
completed at a cost of about ^2200.00 Capt. Joseph 
Brown, Col. Joseph Sweatt, Peter Fifield, Esq'r., and 



9 

Jonathan Brown were active in the enterprise. The 
Universalists, Methodists and Christians joined hands in 
a friendly way to build the long desired and truly Cath- 
olic Church edifice. It was dedicated by appropriate 
exercises and with much good feeling. No spirituous 
liquors were used. The kev. Thomas Worcester, of 
Salisbury, was the first minister to preach with regulari- 
ty in the new meeting-house. He was a liberal man in 
religious sentiment and was an impressive speaker. 
His salary of $80.00 only provided for sermons by him 
monthly for one year. 

The statement that no spirituous liquors were at 
the dedication shows the existance of temperance senti- 
ment in the place at that early time. And yet a bill for 
articles furnished the building committee by John 
Taylor shows that rum was deemed a part of the neces- 
sary supplies for finishing the meeting-house, nails, glass 
and rum being called for with equal freedom. This bill 
which was paid by note due in one year, is preserved at 
the house of Hiram Fifield. 

The building was harmoniously occupied by four 
denominations at the same time each having the use for 
one Sunday in the month. The first minister. Rev. 
Thomas Worcester, was Congregationalist. The pther 
denominations that alternated in the use of the building 
were at a later date, perhaps, Methodists, Free Will Bap- 
tists and Universalists. 

This harmonious use of the meeting-house by four 
denominations at once, and the harmonious relinquish- 
ment of the church to the Christian Denomination at a 
later date, are quite remarkable as indicating a liberal 
spirit of fellowship among the people; "no meeting-house 
troubles" being reported with reference to the use or 
disposition of the building. 

THE METHODISTS. 

No records are at hand to show the doings of the 



lO 

disciples of John Wesley in Andover, but frequent re- 
ports of Methodist services are heard. A census of the 
church membership for the purpose of the distribution 
of the income of the church funds was made in the year 
1822 with this result: Union Baptist Society, 152 mem- 
bers; Universal Society, 44; Congregational Society, 24 
and the Calvinistic Baptist Society, 16 members. The 
Methodists are not included in this distribution, show- 
ing that none were organized at that time ; but later, per- 
haps from 1830 to 1840, later or earlier, their activity is 
reported. William Proctor showed large hospitality to 
their ministers in passing through the town and co-oper- 
ated with them but found reason for restricting his hos- 
pitality by posting a card over the hook at v/hich horses 
were usually tied to this effect: 

" A home for all preachers of the Gospel, 
But not a harbor for abolitionists." 

A grand daughter of Mr. Proctor, Mrs. Betsy Scales, 
reports that after this the Methodist preachers came less 
frequently. A rule of the Methodist church relative to 
slavery is in these words, — "W^e therefore affectionately 
admonish all our preachers and people to keep them- 
selves pure from this great evil, and seek its extirpation 
by all lawful and Christian means." The standards of 
the Methodist church were opposed to slavery, this fact 
resulting in a division of the denomination and the or- 
ganization of the Methodist Church South. It does not 
appear from any history at hand that this division has 
ever been so far healed as to result in a reunion of the 
two branches of the Methodist Church. Mr. Daniel 
Davis testifies that their zeal in Andover was such as to 
make the woods resonant with their prayers at night. 
Since the organization of the 2nd Christian Society in 
Andover the Methodists appear to have been less active 
and no organization appears to have continued. 



1 1 

MILLERISM. 

Millerism was preached in Andover but the sanity 
of the people is said to have prevented its making any 
considerable impression upon them. Their preachers 
were heard in an unbelieving frame of mind if at all. 
Mrs. Daniel Davis, when visitins: friends in Warner who 
were waiting for the end of the world and neglecting the 
care of this world's goods as of no further interest to 
them, made practical application of her disbelief by offer- 
ing to receive some of the things that they were to have 
no further need for, upon which her sleigh was loaded 
with household goods which she brought home with her 
upon her return. 

THE SECOND CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

The records of the Second Christian Church be- 
gan August 19, 1843 ^^^ close Nov. 7, 1876. Under 
the former date we are informed that " Pursuant to pre- 
vious arrangement the friends of primitive Christianity 
met at the meeting-house in the upper parish in Ando- 
ver on Saturday the 19th of August, 1843 ^^^ proceed- 
ed as follows: The exercises were introduced by sing- 
ing and prayer and remarks by Elder E. Shaw, explan- 
atory of the object of the meeting, &c. The following 
persons signified their purpose to recognize each other 
as members of the Church of God, receiving the New 
Testament as their rule of faith and practice." Names,- 
Ebenezer Tucker, David Davis, James Farnum, Steph- 
en Cilley, Nathan Woodbury, Cynthia Roberts, Apphia 
Woodbury, Sarah Tucker and Martha Loretta Philbrick. 

Nathan Woodbury was chosen Clerk of the Church. 
Nathan Woodbury, son, thus summarizes the history of 
the church, " Nov. 7, 1875. Elder A. H. Martin pre- 
sided at a communion season. 

This is the last church ordinance recorded. 

The total number of members rec'd by the organ- 
ization, 32 
LofO. 



12 

Dropped by their own request, 5 

Died, 14 

Dismissed, 6 

Members remaining, 1875, 7" 

" Ministers or Pastors. 

Elders, Elijah Shaw, Wm. Morrill, Wm. H. Nason, 
John Burden, S. W. Whitney, Thomas Bartlett and A. 
H. Martin." 

It will be seen from this summary that the mem- 
bership was small in number. The Clerk in one of his 
letters calls it a "feeble band," and yet the church exer- 
cised an important influance on the history of the town. 
In July 1856 the church property, with the free consent 
of those interested passed into the' control of the Christ- 
ion denomination and the support of the Andover Acad- 
emy, which had been maintained undenominationally 
for eight years, passed to this denomination. 

The school was given the name, New England 
Christian Literary and Biblical Institute, afterward 
shortened to New England Christian Institute. For 
twenty-three years or until 1879 the school was main- 
tained by this denomination, although removed for a 
time to Wolfeboro. The Boarding hall was erected and 
nearly ready for occupation when financial difficulties 
led to the sale of the property to the Unitarian Educa- 
tional Society. 

CONGREGATIONAUSTS. 

The first minister settled in the town of Andover 
was Rev. Josiah Badcock, a Congregationalist, at East 
Andover. The early society appears to have been re- 
peatedly suspended and re-organized at later dates. A 
Congregationalist, Rev. Thomas Worcester was first to 
preach in the Andover meeting-house. A Congrega- 
tional society was maintained in Andover Center, the 
records of which are not at hand. Rev. Nathan How- 



13 
ard, wliu lixecl at West Andover, ]jrcached licrc and at 
Wilmot between the years 1843 and 1.S54. He now 
lives at Prarie, Grant Co., Oklahoma Ter. This socie- 
ty appears to have l^een merged in tlie society at Kast 
.\nd()\er, and to have suspended services at Andover. 
A new society was organized Oct. 14, iSSo, under the 
name of the Orthodox Congregational Church, of An- 
dover, Cen. N. H. Rev. Howard Moody presided at the 
meeting for organization. Its Confession of P^aith is as 
follows: 

"Asa Church of Jesus Christ, associated in accord- 
ance with the teachings of the New Testament, for the 
public worship of God, for the obser\'ance of the gospel 
sacraments and ordinances, for mutual edification and 
encouragement in the Christian Life, and for the ad- 
vancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom, we declare our 
union in Faith and Lo\'e with all who love our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

" Receiving the Scriptures of the Old and New Tes- 
taments as the word of God and the only infallible rule 
of religious faith and practice, we confess our faith in 
the one, living and true God, revealed as the Father, the 
Son. and the Holv Ghost; the Creator and Preser\-er of 
all things, whose purposes and pro\'idence extend to all 
events, and who exercises a righteous goxernment over 
all his creatures. 

" We believe in the universal sinfulness and ruin of 
our race; since' By one man sin entered tlie world and 
death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for that 
all have sinned. 

"We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of 
God, having taken upon himself our nature, has, by his 
obedience, sufferings and death, provided a way of sal- 
vation for all mankind: and that through faith in his 
name whosoever will mav be sa\ed. 



14 

" We believe that although salvation is offered freely 
to all, they only repent and believe in Christ, who in 
thus obeying the gospel are regenerated by the Holy 
Spirit; and that all who are thus regenerated are, kept 
by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. 

'' We believe that the Christian Sabbath, the Ministry 
of the Word, the visible Church, and the ordinances of 
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are divinely appointed 
and are binding on the followers of Christ until His 
coming. 

"W^e believe that there is a day appointed, in which 
God will raise the dead and judge the world: that the 
wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, and 
the righteous into life eternal." 

A council of churches was called which approved the 
articles of organization from which this confession is tak- 
en, Nov. 1 6, iS8o, and the following members were re- 
ceived : William Woodbury, Mrs. Lucy P. Martin Wood- 
bury, Leonard Palmer, Mrs. Lois H. Elliott Palmer, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Conant Proctor, Mrs. Charlotte A. S. 
Woodman Thompson, John S. Tucker, Mrs. Eliza Rob- 
erts Tucker, Miss Eliza Woodbury, George White, Mrs. 
Jennie P. Thompson White, John R. Bates, Mrs. Nancy 
J. Morrill Bates, Mrs. Lucy M. Smith Currier, Miss 
Martha J. Clark, George H. Chase, Mrs. Nellie M. Mar- 
tin Cliase, and Willis D. Howard. 

William Woodbury and Leonard Palmer were or- 
dained deacons. 

The church has had two settled pastors, Rev. Howard 
Moody, 1 880- 1 884, and Rev. John Thorpe from 1894 
to the present time. Among those who have preached 
as supplies during the ten years 1884-94 are. Rev. Fred- 
erick Chutter, 1886; Rev. Elisha A. Keep, 1887; Rev. 
George F. Kengott, 1888; Rev. Frederick B. Noyes, 
1889; Rev. E.j. Aiken, 1890; Rev. N. F. Carter, 1890; 



15 
Rev. H. \Y. L. Thurston, 1891; Rev. Egbert Smyth 
Ellis, 1892; Rev. Harvey Sawyer, ICS93; Rev. Thomas 
J. Lewis, 1894. 

The Chapel was built 1882. It was dedicated and 
Rew Howard Moody installed Sept. 26, 1882. 

UNITARIAN SOCIETY. 

Emery's centennial address quotes the historian, J. 
B. Moore, as saying that a " Unitarian 'Society' was 
formed in Andover in 1830," and states that no records 
of the society were found. Whether this society was at 
Andover or East Andover is not indicated. Inasmuch 
as there was a Universalist Society at Andover it seems 
probable that this earlv Unitarian Society was at East 
Andover. Information of this society would be very 
welcome if it could be found. 

The present Congregational Unitarian Societv of 
Andover was organized in 1879. The first of the arti- 
cles of organization states that " The object of this So- 
ciety shall be united effort in the studv and practice of 
Christianity." This is its only creed, which is in har- 
mony with the constitution of the National Conference 
of Unitarian and other Christian Churches which de- 
clares that " These churches accept the religion of Jesus 
holding, in accordance with his teaching that practical 
religion is summed up in love to God and love to man." 

The signatures to the constitution at the time of 
the fiust annual meeting, 1880, were, John P. Carr, Amos 
H. Proctor, Joseph Baker, Emeline Proctor, Alma E, 
Campbell, Robert C. Carr, Emily A. Carr, Mrs. H. R. 
Fellows, Mary A. Brown, Frank VV. Proctor, Lewis P. 
Carr, Mrs. Lewis P. Carr, Clarence E. Carr, Carrie E. 
Carr, Sarah E. Proctor, Mrs. H. F. French. Many oth- 
ers were members by virtue of contribution to the sup- 
port of the society. The number of signatures to the 
constitution as amended 1892 is seventy-seven. 



1 6 

The pastors of the society have been Rev. Cah'in 
Stebbins, from Oct. 1879 to Sept. 188 1 ; Rev. Crawford 
Nightingale, from Sept. 1881 to the summer of 1882; 
Rev. Thomas Thompson, from July 1882 to fall of 1886; 
Rev. W. A. Buxton, Nov. 18, 1887 to Jan. 13, 1889; ^^"^d 
Lyman Clark, from Jan. 1890 to the present time, Sept. 
1897. 

The society has from the beginning co-operated 
with the Unitarian Educational Society in the mainte- 
nance of Proctor Academy, the church and the Acade- 
my being alike objects of its care. 

Seventv-seven names have been received and sub- 
scribed to the constitution as amended 1892. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC. 

No Roman Catholic Church Edifice has been erect- 
ed in Andover. Services have been held at private 
houses, conducted by the Reverend pastors at Lebanon. 

THE COMMON ELEMENT. 

If we think for a moment of the religious ideas for 
which these several denominations have stood we find a 
common clement in them all. They all believe in God, 
immortality, and righteousness of life; all have the Bible 
as their great book of religion ; all cultivate discipleship 
of Jesus Christ. Doubtless they all have stood largely 
for truth, honesty, temperance, purity, and the improve- 
ment of human society. They may have differed about 
a thousand points of teaching or of experience but the 
great things about which they are agreed are the impor- 
tant things. 

The creeds which have been read are commonly 
short. The Methodist articles of religion are twenty 
five in number and were not read. They are in the lan- 
guage of John Wesley and are like the laws of the Medes 
and the Persians which change not. 

A large element of liberality is found in most if not 



17 
all of these denominations. The confession of tlie Or- 
thodox Congregational Church declares its union with 
"all who love our Lord Jesus Christ." The statements 
of the Christian, Universalist, and Unitarian societies, 
as they appear in tliese records, differ in some respects 
but not essentially. The Free Baptist societies show a 
large amount of independence of religious thought. 
Our country is showing the fact that the Roman Catho- 
lic church has its broad minded, liberal men. We have 
large reason to be hopeful of the future of religious 
thought in this town and the world at large. 

The advancement of human life, the improvement 
of this town, depend largely upon a recognition of our 
common brotherhood of humanity, and upon the people 
working together in a friendly spirit rather than by 
maintaining hostile and divisive camps which war one 
upon another. 

THE UNTOLD STORY. 

Jesus once said to the disciples, I have many things 
to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now. So with 
the conclusion of this story. At a proper time it would 
be interesting to speak of some of the workers in this 
field. Brief accounts of the lives of some of the Ando- 
ver people are needed and would be useful for encour- 
agement and example. For the conclusion of this dis- 
course let me simply mention the names of a few. John 
Proctor who built this hall and donated the use of it for 
religious purposes should not be overlooked. Rev. H. 
C. Duganne, of the Christian Society, who entered upon 
the work of chanty administration in Lowell, deserves a 
memorial of his good work. Rev. John Langdon Dud- 
ley, a son of one of the Universalist families, was one 
whose life might well serve for an entire discourse. Al- 
though he was not one who was settled in the ministry 
here he went out from the town. Rev. A. H. Martin 



i8 
was one whose liberality of disposition led to his being 
largely supported in his work by a union congregation. 
Rev. Crawford Nia^htins^ale, who came to his death as 
the result of an infirmity of hearing, may well be remem- 
bered for his genial combativeness of religious temper. 
If I were ready to tell these and other stories you could 
not bear them now. They must remain for some future 
occasion if that shall be found. 



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